ALL ABOUT THE MAINE COON CAT

Maine coon cat is the America’s first indigenous show cat. The much loved Maine Coon remains one of the largest breeds of domestic cat. It is known for its liveliness, intelligence, and its distinctive physical appearance. It has been said that the name “coon” comes from “raccoon” because of the similarities of the tails of the two animals. The breed remains one of the oldest breeds in North America and originated from New England. This breed of cat is regarded as “the gentle giant” and is known for a pleasant nature. The Maine Coon cat has different names; American Coon Cat, American Longhair, Maine Cat, Maine Trick Cat, American Forest Cat, American Shag, American Snug head and don’t forget Connie. This particular cat is adored by many and for good reasons. The major one is their intelligence.

Maine Coons are energetic and huge cats, sometimes weighing up to 25 pounds (11-12 kilograms); the average weight is 13-20 pounds (6 to 9 kilograms) for adult males and 7-11 pounds for females. The male may grow to a length more than 1 meter. Growth to full size often takes longer than for most cats, with Maine Coons usually reaching full size at age four or five.

PHYSICAL FEATURES:

HEAD

The head is round in shape especially when viewed from the front, medium in width and longish in length.

EARS

Set high and well apart. They are large, and well-tufted tapering to a point, in common with the Lynx and Bobcat. The tufts on the ears show typical signs of the ‘gentle giant.’

EYES

They’ve large and broad set, slightly oblique slanting to outer base of the ear.

BODY

Full maturation can take 4 to 5 years, and allowances should be made when judging the size of the cat. Overall, the body is broad-chested and muscular. The body is well proportioned throughout.

LEGS AND FEET

The legs are strong and substantial and proportionate to the body. The paws are well tufted in between the toes, making it an essential feature of the breed. They’ve five toes on the front paws and four on the back.

TAIL

This is the probably the most distinct feature of this cat. The tail is long. The fur is also thick and long.

Maine Coons are one of the slower growing breeds of cats, often taking 4 or 5 years to reach full maturity. Maine Coon cats display a high level of intelligence and can be trained much like a dog. Being blessed with great energy and mischievous sense of humor, Maine coon can play with you always. Their gigantic front paws, even if they aren’t polydactyl, give them a great deal of ability.

WHO SHOULD OWN ONE?

A Maine Coon cat would be right for a family that has children and other pets. This breed is sought out for because of its easy-going personality, people-oriented nature and fondness for companionship, be it with people or even other animals.

Another good owner of this breed would be someone who has never had a cat before. Because Maine Coons require little in the way of grooming and constant attention, they are reasonably easy to care for and would make a good introduction to the world of cat ownership. A single person who has other household pets would also make a good owner for a Maine Coon, as they are very social and fun-loving companions.

IN CONCLUSION

Aside from keeping them entertained, maybe you could also cuddle with them in your lap. But they’re not considered to be lap cats. Maine Coon cats are highly independent, so you won’t find your cat begging for attention, but will always be a constant shadow, happy to be near you.